National News

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (APP): Women who have a history of gum disease face a
higher risk of several types of cancer, particularly tumors in the esophagus and breasts, a US study.
Health News reported that “A history of periodontal disease was
associated with a 14 percent higher risk of developing any cancer,” said the study.
Researchers also uncovered a “significantly higher risk” of lung
cancer, gallbladder cancer, melanoma and breast cancer.
The study spanned 1999 to 2013, and involved more than 65,000 post-
menopausal women who filled out questionnaires about their health.
The women, aged 54 to 86, were followed for an average of eight years.
Previous research has shown people with gum disease face a higher risk
of certain cancers.
This study is the first to focus on gum disease’s link to all cancers,
and in an all-female population.
Researchers said that “This study is the first national study focused
on women, particularly older women”.
One theory is that harmful pathogens could be carried in saliva and
dental plaque, or through diseased gum tissues into the blood circulation.
“The esophagus is in close proximity to the oral cavity, and so
periodontal pathogens may more easily gain access to and infect the esophageal mucosa and promote cancer risk at that site,” researchers said.